President Barack Obama lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va., on Monday.

Associated Press

President Barack Obama said the country “must do more” to care for its military veterans, in a Memorial Day ceremony that played out in the midst of a crisis over health care at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“As we have been reminded in recent days, we must do more to keep faith with our veterans and their families and ensure that they get the care and benefits and opportunities that they have earned and that they deserve,” Mr. Obama said in a speech at Arlington National Cemetery. “These Americans have done their duty, they ask nothing more than that our country does ours now and for decades to come.”

Mr. Obama last week took responsibility for any misconduct at the VA and vowed to punish anyone responsible for wrongdoing, in response to allegations involving excessive patient wait times at VA hospitals and a efforts to cover up the problems.

His speech Monday followed a ceremony in which he laid a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier honoring U.S. soldiers who have died.

The president arrived at the tomb around 11 a.m., about four hours after returning from a surprise trip to Afghanistan to visit with U.S. troops. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and others greeted him before the wreath-laying.

Mr. Obama followed the hosts out onto the promenade where the tomb’s guards stand watch, and stood silently for a few minutes during the national anthem. He stepped forward to place the wreath, clasped his hands and bowed his head. A military band played “Taps.”

Mr. Obama then walked to the nearby amphitheater. The U.S. Navy Band played “America the Beautiful” and Gen. Dempsey and Mr. Hagel gave brief remarks.

One of the onlookers was Eric Shinseki, the embattled head of the VA, who has said he won’t resign as the agency deals with the crisis.

Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden and First Lady Michelle Obama sat with children of fallen service members, the White House said.

Mr. Obama, taking the podium last, delivered a speech extolling veterans and their families for their sacrifices, particularly in Afghanistan.

“Because of their profound sacrifice, because of the progress they have made, we are in a pivotal moment – our troops are coming home. By the end of this year, our war in Afghanistan will finally come to an end,” Mr. Obama said to applause.

The loudest applause of the morning came when the president pointed out Clara Gantt the 96 year-old widow of a soldier who served in World War II and went missing during the Korean War. Last December, more than 60 years after her husband disappeared, the missing man’s remains were finally returned to the U.S.

“She was there to welcome him home,” Mr. Obama said.

Corrections & Amplifications

Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden and First Lady Michelle Obama sat with children of fallen service members, the White House said. An earlier version of this post incorrectly reported that Mr. Biden sat with the children. Also, Eric Shinseki is head of the VA. An earlier version of this post misspelled his surname.

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